Obama to Seek Congressional Approval on Syria

boston.com ^ | August 31, 2013 | DAVID ESPO

[BarnacleCenturion]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in the Obama administration and on Capitol Hill say President Barack Obama intends to seek congressional approval for action against Syria.

Obama will speak on the developments in Syria from the Rose Garden on Saturday.

The officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak ahead of the president

[MulberryDraw]

Stay home and secure our borders for once. Let Allah sort out Syria.

[SkyPilot]

This is a massive, incredible defeat for Obama.

What he wanted to do was to act tough, use other people's blood and limbs doing it (the US military), help the Muslim Brotherhood, and expand his bargaining position going into the budget and debt ceiling showdown.

What he got was a smack down.

He has the US, domestic media firmly in his pocket. He gets away with murder, and things that any other President would be hung out to dry for. But, the World Stage is a bit more complicated for him.

When the British abandoned the issue, and the debate in Parliament (which was marvelous....did anyone watch that?) exposed the cracks and fissures in the rush to attacking Syria, Obama's pants were unzipped before the world.

Now he goes to Congress with hat in hand, something for a narcissist like him must be unthinkable.

He can moan about Defense cuts, but he is responsible for most of them (the Republicans don't get a pass here either....they have abandoned the military as well).

My guess is he wants to cut, run, and lock himself in his Mommy's bathroom before the kids on the block beat him up.

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

The Congress is now painted into the corner.

Remember how the ones who voted for the Iraq War resolutions tried to blame faulty intelligence; there's already questions about the Intel.

And once the bombs start flying, there's no telling what can happen. I don't expect too many congress critters want to campaign in 2014 having voted for what may have started a major Middle East war, or God forbid, WWIII.

I just don't see Congress giving their approval.

[kempster]

By Tuesday the media will make him out to be a strong military leader and will be writing stories on how he single handedly managed his advisors.

[animal172]

Nothing more than covering his butt if the Congress says no which they should. I can hear it now. I wanted to strike. but the Congress told me no.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I was for the strike before I was against it.

[Darksheare]

What’s the catch, and what is he really doing.

[Mouton]

He had no choice but to go to Congress...80% of the public is against this. So, he is trying to make lemon ade after picking the lemons. In his view he cannot lose, if they don’t give their approval, they are against him and not ethical...if they do and something goes wrong, it is their fault. If they do and it goes well, it was his plan.

[Lazamataz]

Wha’d I say wrong???

[dfwgator]

And if the Republicans don’t go along, they’ll be accused of being hypocrites, if they voted to go to war in Iraq.

I understand comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges, but it will work with the low-information voters.

[CARTOUCHE]

I’m all in for ‘festering excrudescence’. It was my late first mother-in-law’s fav.

[thegrump]

What happened to the man that spoke of getting far more done by going around Congress? He was given his ball and told to go home by the world. Tail between his legs the bully seeks a way out, but like all bullies if he does not get his way he will look for a way to punish Congress and the American People who dare to block his play.

[catnipman]

Good move. Perfect way to save face: “It’s Congress’s fault; they won’t let me.”

[Lost Dutchman]

democrats always refer to our country as a democracy. Their low info voters think democracy = democrats, so inversely republic must mean republicans. We can't have the unwashed masses voting for the wrong candidate because of a word association mistake now can we?

[Atlantan]

After the speech Obama went golfing with Biden.

http://twitchy.com/2013/08/31/golf-war-after-putting-on-syria-president-obama-hits-the-links/

[CARTOUCHE]

It may be a face saving move on the President’s part but it is more importantly a subtle message that Obama doesn’t want to play President any longer. It’s easier and safer to simply get on AF1 and fly to the hidey-hole of his choosing or go golfing. Golfing really does seem to be higher on his priority list of things he’d rather be doing.

How does it feel Mr. Obama, to be the first black president of the USA and know that you will be judged an utter failure as such? How does it feel?

[bgill]

having made my decision as commander in chief

Perfect example of the Peter Principle.

[knarf]

yer kiddin' me, right, Laz

boojit = bullshit ... bullshit is boojit.

It goes waayyy back to my high school years when a white guy was a chuck ass mf'er.

[al_c]

Good! Now let’s vote it down, Congress!

[SunkenCiv]

Obama to seek Congress vote on Syria military action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23916752

The main findings of the unclassified US evidence state that:

* the attacks killed 1,429 people, including 426 children
* Syrian military chemical weapons personnel were operating in the area in the three days before the attack
* Satellite evidence shows rockets launched from government-held areas 90 minutes before the first report of chemical attack
* 100 videos attributed to the attack show symptoms consistent with exposure to a nerve agent
* Communications were intercepted involving a senior Damascus official who “confirmed chemical weapons were used” and was concerned about UN inspectors obtaining evidence